What is the Tomatometer®?

The Tomatometer rating – based on the published opinions of hundreds of film and television critics – is a trusted measurement of movie and TV programming quality for millions of moviegoers. It represents the percentage of professional critic reviews that are positive for a given film or television show.

From the Critics

From RT Users Like You!

Fresh

The Tomatometer is 60% or higher.

Rotten

The Tomatometer is 59% or lower.

Certified Fresh

Movies and TV shows are Certified Fresh with a steady Tomatometer of 75% or higher after a set amount of reviews (80 for wide-release movies, 40 for limited-release movies, 20 for TV shows), including 5 reviews from Top Critics.

I had never seen this film with former SCTV cast member John Candy, Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty so gave it a try. While not great, it was entertaining enough to stick with it...mostly because I'm a huge John Candy fan. I can't recommend it though. For fans only.

Until his untimely death, John Candy was always one of our most likable and dependable comic actors. Even in the worst of films, he always got the most out of his bankable charisma and you won't find a much more unappealing film that he starred in than "Going Berserk". This was his first major film role after leaving the Canadian comedy troupe "SCTV", and several of his friends from that outfit just about sink their careers before they get started in this film as well.Candy shows some of the star quality he would be known for in this dreary, unfunny picture but co-stars Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy aren't given much to do. There's a plot here, but in all actuality, it makes up very little of the film's blessedly short running time. The rest of this almost feels like the worst episode of "SCTV" ever, a weak collection of skits that seem disjointed and out of place. The biggest time waster here involves Candy getting arrested and breaking out with future "Ghostbuster" Ernie Hudson. It eats away at the running time and has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but like the rest of the picture, it's completely devoid of laughs. The movie might have worked better as a "PG" rated, more family orientated film like "Who's Harry Crumb?". The sex humor here feels out of place and unnecessarily crude and embarrassing. Candy's best films were kinder, gentler offerings, but this was too early in his career to know what kind of role would fit him the best. At the time this was made, "R" rated comedies were all the rage and that's what was offered to him. He should have waited for a better offer. "Going Berserk" is a desperate and forgettable flick.

This comedy did get some laughs out of me, but not enough for me to say it was an excellent film. The story was kind of weak. so you really need to rely on the humor to keep you going. But like I said, it was a little funny, but not funny enough. John Candy did a pretty good job. There is one scene where he is handcuffed to Ernie Hudson. Hudson was inside a room and made Candy stand outside the door. That was a really funny scene. You need to watch it to see what I am saying. There is actually a few really good scenes thanks to John Candy. Eugene Levy was decent, but not that funny. Joe Flaherty was Candy's partner in crime in the film. He did a decent job. So overall it was just an ok movie.

Dull and formulaic, Going Berserk is an underwhelming comedy that's poorly made. The story follows a limo driver that is brain washed by a religious cult to become an assassin, but things don't go exactly as planned. The cast features some impressive comedic talent, such as John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Ernie Hudson, but they're poorly used. The story is also particularly bad; it just doesn't go anywhere and nothing pays off. Going Berserk is a pointless and uninspired film that only delivers occasional laughs.

John Candy as a limo driver who is brainwashed to kill his future father-in-law by a religious aerobics cult. Has SCTV alumni Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy with Candy giving a nod to Melonville early. Liked Candy handcuffed to the dead guy.

John Candy is brainwashed in an attempt to kill his Congressman father-in-law to be. A significant underachievement given the presence of three SCTV alumni. When these guys fail to make it work there are real problems.

Not a bad film. Not John Candy's greatest, by any means, but not a bad film nonetheless. There were moments when John Candy had me laughing hysterically. As always, Candy was the best part of the film. Perhaps more so this time, than in other instances where he was put up against the formidable appearance of a worthy costar. (Steve Martin in Planes, Trains, And Automobiles) Candy is the only huge draw to the film. But he manages to carry it, and it is worth a watch.

John Candy as a limo driver who is brainwashed to kill his future father-in-law by a religious aerobics cult. Has SCTV alumni Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy with Candy giving a nod to Melonville early. Liked Candy handcuffed to the dead guy.

A forgotten flawed gem from the SCTV crew. Hit and miss, but some of the hits are great. Cult hypnotizes future son in law to kill congressman, is the plot, but they don't try too hard to stick to it. A must see for Candy/SCTV fans.